The rest of my morning classes, and lunch, were unimpressive. They all passed in a sort of blur and before I knew it, I was changing into my skin-tight training uniform again. Naomi looked as nervous as I did, and she gave me a tight smile before we headed out of the locker room.

Coach Knight was already waiting for us in the middle of the room. Her stern face watched the milling students as she waited for everyone to finish changing.

Once everyone was in the training room, Coach Knight called for silence. Naomi nervously twirled a piece of her red hair between her fingers. She didn't look at me, just stared at Coach Knight, her skin pale enough to make out each of her freckles spattered across her nose and cheeks.

"I have assigned you each a sparring partner. You will work closely with your partner in this class. I have a list here. I have assigned partners according to the results of your exhibition fights yesterday."

Nerves churned in my stomach. Coach Knight had picked our partners for us. I highly doubted I'd be able to stay with Naomi, even though that was what I wanted. Even if she wasn't good at fighting, she also wouldn't try to murder me every day either.

But would she partner me with someone on the same level as me? Or would Coach Knight pair the beginners with the more experienced students?

Coach Knight turned to pin the list to the bulletin board behind her. "Find your partner, then wait for further instructions."

As the rest of the class surged to the front, Naomi and I held back. Neither of us was eager to see who Coach Knight had paired us with. The stern-looking woman stood next to the paper, looking at the students as if challenging them to question her decision. We joined the end of the line, watching the students in front of us as they groaned or cheered as they read their partner's name.

Mari, who stood next to Alek, moved to read from the list. After about a minute, she let out an enraged screech. It was animalistic and inhumane. She spun on her heel, her ice-blue eyes boring into me with venomous rage.

"How dare you!"

I shared a glance with Naomi, who was just as confused as I was. "What do you think I did?" I murmured to her, my eyes finding Mari again. Alek stood next to her, a passive expression on his face.

She shrugged her shoulders, but the fear as Mari marched our way was clear in her eyes. Whatever I'd supposedly done had made Mari angrier than I'd ever seen her. And this was the same girl who'd dumped oatmeal on my head simply for bumping into her.

But a new fear raced through me. Mari had magic. Would she use it against me? Nausea clawed its way up my throat, but there was no time to react.

Stopping short, just inches from my face, Mari was radiating anger. It rolled off in waves and I could have sworn magic curled around her fingers. I swallowed hard.

"Just who do you think you are?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I truly didn't. Besides, I usually stayed out of Mari's way for reasons just like this. I had no desire to be the object of her anger.

"Alek is supposed to be my partner, not yours. We're even going to be Bound one day."

Bound? What did that even mean? Did it have something to do with when my mother spoke to Inara? Elyse had said something about Bonded. But before I asked a question or even could even respond, Mari seemed to snap, her anger coiling like a snake ready to attack.

Magic crackled around her fist as she raised it, poised to strike. My heart plummeted into my stomach as fear shot across my skin like electricity. But when she went to hit me, she seemed to freeze.

"Marisol Everwood, magic and excessive violence are not allowed in my classroom." Coach Knight's face was stern. Her own hand was closed into a fist above her head, clearly using magic to restrain Mari from causing me harm. "Report to the Inara's office immediately."

With a snap of her fingers, Coach Knight released Mari from the magic binding her. Mari still narrowed her blue eyes as she flicked a perfect curl over her shoulder. "This isn't over, Selene," she sneered, using my name for the first time. It sounded like a curse when it rolled off her tongue. Then she stormed out of the gym, still in her training gear.

The rest of the class watched me with interest, some making comments I couldn't hear. Coach Knight clapped her hands together briskly, demanding our attention. "Let's continue with class, shall we?"

Naomi and I stepped up to the list nervously, though I already knew who my partner was. Still, I couldn't help double-checking, anyway. Marked next to my name was Alek's, as if Coach Knight wanted my life to be more miserable than before. Mari's display was just the beginning of her anger. She would find more creative ways of getting back at me for this, even if it wasn't my fault.

Alek stood nearby, his face impassive. Naomi quickly found her partner, sending me an apologetic smile over her shoulder as she vanished.

"Coach Knight, is this really a good idea?" Alek asked her, casting a quick glance my way. He seemed irritated, like the thought of being my partner had gotten under his skin.

Our teacher crossed her arms over her chest. "Your display in class yesterday inspired me, Aleksander. If you're so keen on Selene being able to defend herself properly, maybe you should help get her there."

"I don't think it's a good idea." The look in Alek's eyes was pure anger. He refused to even look at me, his focus on Coach Knight.

Me either, I wanted to say, though I kept my mouth shut. Mari was already angry enough at me. And from across the room, I could feel another glare, most likely Celeste. I didn't want to be caught up in a mean girl war over Alek, but Coach Knight was placing me squarely in the middle.

More than that, the dream of him, standing over Samantha Harris stuck in my mind. I still wasn't sure if he had something to do with her death or not. And I wasn't sure I wanted to find out by becoming his next victim.

Jason was suddenly next to me. "I could switch partners with Alek, if that would make him more comfortable."

Jason's partner, Celeste, stood to the side, smiling in agreement. It was clear she wouldn't mind having Alek for a partner. But having Celeste might actually have made Mari's head explode. As much as Mari hated me, at least I wasn't Alek's ex.

"I'm fine with that," Alek quickly agreed.

Coach Knight crossed her arms over her chest. "There will be no switching partners. I have assigned you each for a specific reason and my word is final. Jason, return to Celeste."

Jason mouthed, "Sorry," before moving back to Celeste's side. She seemed nearly as angry as Mari, though she didn't come at me with her rage. No, I suspected that she would be much more subtle than Mari was. She would come for me when no one watched. And I knew it would be worse than having oatmeal poured on my head.

Alek opened his mouth, probably to plead with Coach Knight again, but she promptly shut him down with a stern look.

"I won't hear any more of your complaints, Aleksander. Selene is your partner. No amount of whining will change that, so I suggest you shut your mouth before you earn another week of detention."

Alek said nothing as Coach Knight stalked away, but the look he gave me said everything. He hated me nearly as much as Mari did.

I caught Naomi's glance from across the room, where she stood with a girl whose name I couldn't remember. The girl was chatting easily with Naomi, who looked nervous. When she saw me standing next to Alek, she gave me a sympathetic smile. I tried to give her one in return, but it felt more like a grimace than a smile.

Coach Knight moved to the front of the room. "Alright class, enough time has been wasted. Let's begin with some simple stretches, to loosen up your muscles and warm up your bodies."

She led by example, showing us each individual stretch. Alek stood next to me, though as far away as he possibly could. While other pairs talked lightly, adjusting positions or correcting form, we said nothing. After all, Alek had made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with me. I doubted he would help me at all in this class. We would both fail, all due to his pettiness.

After finishing with the stretches, Coach Knight instructed us to take our fighting stances. I looked around the classroom, watching the other pairs as they did as they were told. I did my best to mimic the way they had their feet planted, but I still felt that I wasn't doing it right.

A quick glance to Alek showed that his eyes were forward, not paying any attention to me. As much as being around him made me feel strange, I needed his help for this stupid class.

"Alek, help your partner fix her stance. Melody, same for you."

Melody, the girl paired with Naomi, was quick to help Naomi adjust, but Alek didn't even look my way. Coach Knight crossed her arms and watched, saying nothing, but she clearly wasn't happy.

"Aleksander, assist your partner."

We were gathering stares now. I stood out of my stance, embarrassed blush creeping across my cheeks. But Alek never moved. He locked eyes with Coach Knight.

"Another week of detention." Coach Knight said, her shoulders tensed with anger. When Alek didn't respond, she said, "Two month's detention. This will be served in my classroom. Selene, you'll join us as well."

I couldn't stop the look of anger that crossed my features or the words that came out of my mouth. "That isn't fair!"

"I know it isn't," Coach Knight amended, voice soft as she addressed me. "But you two are a team now and you will be punished as a team. Let this be a lesson to all in this class. Your successes and failures are completely dependent on your partners. Help them succeed and you will succeed as well."

The rest of the students murmured, clearly not too keen on these new rules. To have whether you pass or fail depend on someone else was something no one ever wanted.

"Class dismissed. Alek and Selene, see me after last period for your detention."

Students broke off to head to the locker rooms, but I stopped Alek. He ripped his arm out of my grasp and turned to glare at me.

"What the hell is your problem?" I asked him.

A muscle feathered in his jaw, a sign that he was straining to contain his anger. But I didn't care.

"I want nothing to do with you," he spat the words at me.

"Why?"

He gave a harsh laugh that made my blood run cold. "I've told you, I want nothing to do with you. My mother thought it was best to mingle with the neighborhood kids, to look normal. The last thing I'd wanted was a needy little brat following me around. When we left, I'd never felt more relieved."

Tears of hurt stung behind my eyes, but I would never let him have the satisfaction of seeing me cry. Not again. And besides, this wasn't new information he was throwing my way.

But Alek wasn't through with me yet. "And you're a nobody. Why don't you go back to where you came from? Oh wait, mommy doesn't want you either."

I jerked back, more hurt than angry. I knew he'd already told Mari about what my mother had said, but I didn't think he'd stoop low enough himself. A cruel grin flashed across his face.

"You're an ass," I said, letting every ounce of anger coat my words. "And just because you're bitter about something that happened when we were children doesn't mean you get to throw a tantrum now. Grow up."

Alek turned away then and stormed off. I didn't try to stop him.

Naomi was waiting for me outside the locker room, already changed into her uniform. "Are you okay? I heard raised voices."

I tried to seem nonchalant as I headed into the room. "I told Alek what a jerk he is."

She followed me in, her face looking shocked. "You said that to him?"

"I actually called him an ass," I said. "I'm tired of dealing with his rudeness. And Mari's. I've done nothing to warrant it." I changed quickly into my uniform, stuffing the training gear into my locker and grabbing my bag. Most of the girls had already disappeared out of the room, heading to their next class.

"Hey, Naomi?" I asked, lowering my voice. "Is it possible to regain lost memories in dreams?"

She gave me a puzzled look. "I'm not an expert on dreams, but sometimes things can come back to us in our dreams. Is this about that night you can't remember? Is it starting to come back to you?"

I wasn't sure how to respond to her. Do I tell her everything? Do I tell her bits and pieces? Which bits and pieces. I chewed on my lip nervously. But I still wasn't sure if I could trust Naomi.

"I've had a few nightmares and I was curious. But I still don't remember anything."

The lie stung, but I held firm. I needed more than just some crazy dreams before I could tell someone else. I needed proof.